How to be a Birder part 7
Hint # 7 Write down what you see
Don’t trust your memory. It is very important to write down in a notebook what you have seen. For most birders this is merely a list of the different species seen. In addition to that, I also record the date, the place I saw the bird, the time and the latitude and longitude coordinates (more on that in another posting: Hint #15).
If you have seen something unusual, say a bird you’ve never seen before, a rare bird or a bird way out of its normal range, it is very important to take detailed notes of your observation, including a sketch if necessary. This will help authenticate your sighting if anyone questions it, especially if reported to a bird organisation as a rarity.
When I was recording sightings for the Atlas of Australian birds I submitted several entries that were later questioned. The bird I recorded was out of its range and I didn’t realise it at the time and I took no notes. I was therefore unable to prove my sightings and they were rejected. You may consider this a burden or unnecessary. That’s fine if you want your hobby to be casual and relaxing. Just hope that you never see a really rare bird, say like the first ever occurrence of a species in your country!
For more hints on how to be a birder click here.ÂÂ
Silver Gull
How to be a Birder part 6
Hint # 6 Observe the General Appearance of the Bird
Look at the general appearance of a bird. On seeing a bird the observer usually tries to identify it immediately. As you become more experienced you will notice certain features of the bird that help to narrow down the possibilities. This is before you consult a field guide.
Ask yourself some key questions.
- What is its size? Is it small like a sparrow, about the size of a magpie or large like a pelican? Your response to this question will narrow down the possibilities considerably.
- What is its body shape? Does it have the general shape of a duck, an eagle or a crow? Is it thin and sleek like a honeyeater, or fat and dumpy like a dove or pigeon? Does it have a straight beak, or is it curved.
- What is its main colour? Is it all black, all white, black and white, mainly yellow, does it have blue on the wings? This question narrows down the possibilities even further.
- What is it doing? Is it feeding on the ground? Is it on the water? Is it feeding from a flower? Is it high in the canopy of a tree? Is it looking for insects and spiders under the bark of trees? All these questions help to narrow the field even further.
- How does it fly? Does it fly quickly and directly like a pigeon? Does it hover on the air or glide on air currents like kites and eagles? Is it restless and always on the move like a flycatcher?
- What is its call like? Is it soft and cooing like a dove, or harsh and noisy like a parrot? Is its call song-like and repeated often or is it mostly silent?
For more hints on how to be a birder click here.
Australian Pelicans, Rocky Gully Wetlands
How to be a Birder part 5
Hint #5: Buy or Borrow a Field Guide
Birders are always learning more and more about the objects of their hobby. Many collect whole bookshelves, even a small library of books and magazines about birds. Prime amongst these would have to be a field guide to the birds of your area, state or country. In Australia we are in the wonderful position of having more than one from which to choose. In fact there are 5 or 6 excellent guides currently available and several more out of print editions often available in second hand bookshops. There is no excuse for not knowing about birds.
Study the field guide often. Refer to it to find out details of each species. As you see each new species read about it. Try to commit to memory the important facts about its habits, distribution, habitat preference, plumage colours, nesting habits, movements and any other useful information relevant to that particular species.
For other useful hints on becoming a birder click here.
Related article:
- Bird Word: Field Guide – article from my glossary of birding words.
Crested Pigeon
How to be a Birder part 4
Hint # 4: Seek them out
While it is true that birds are almost everywhere one goes in the world, there are some places where there are more birds than elsewhere. I love birding in the garden of our home. We are blessed with more birds than most because we have far more trees and bushes than most people.
Good birding places
If there are not many birds in your garden, or you live in a flat or an apartment or perhaps in a high-rise building you will need to deliberately seek them out. There are many excellent birding spots in most cities and towns. Seek out the local parks and gardens and you will be sure to find more birds. Botanic gardens are particularly rich places for birding. Then seek out any lakes, rivers, dams or reservoirs, all excellent places for waterbirds. If there is a beach, shoreline or better, a river estuary, these places will provide yet a different group of birds. Search out local national parks and wildlife reserves. Even zoos can provide excellent birding spots, both inside and outside the aviaries present.
Excursions
By joining a birding club or organisation you will be able to attend their regular meetings and learn of other interesting places to go. By going on any excursions they provide, you can have access to places you may not even know about. Indeed, sometimes the leaders have gained permission to enter private areas or good birding spots to which birders rarely have access.
Warning!
A word of warning: birders love visiting sewage treatment works. That may seem a little extreme but they are highly attractive places for birds, and consequently they are also attractive places for birders. These days they are more often called waste treatment plants or they are sanitised with a ‘wetlands’ name. With effective waste management these are not the smelly locations many people imagine, but are wonderful birding spots. My current favourite is the Laratinga Wetland area near Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills. This area consists of about five artificial lakes with an abundant birdlife, beautiful trees and bushes and an attractive picnic area.
Related articles:
Collared Sparrowhawk
How to be a Birder part 3
Hint # 3 Buy the best binoculars you can afford
Do I need to buy some binoculars to be a birder?
No – but having even cheap binoculars will help you develop your interest in birds. Using binoculars will help you to see the many details of the colours and the feathers and subtle differences between different species. It also helps to identify a bird that is far off.
What kind of binoculars should I buy?
Binoculars come in a variety of magnifications. Somewhere on the body of the binoculars you find some numbers. These numbers will say something like 8×30 or 10×50. The first number refers to the magnification. The second number refers to the diameter of the front lens in millimetres. The smaller numbers usually mean smaller and lighter items to carry which is important if you spend long hours in the field. The 10×50 type gives excellent views of the birds with good magnification but they can get rather heavy after a few hours strung around your neck. Investing in a good harness to carry your binoculars will be money well spent.
How much should I spend on binoculars?
How much have you got? This is really up to the individual. In Australian dollars, some serious birders feel quite happy spending $3000 on excellent quality binoculars. I’m sure they are wonderful, but I can only justify about $100 and I have seen some wonderful birds using cheap binoculars like that.
Bottom line
While the bottom line is your budget, it must be said that you get what you pay for. If you want good quality in your optics, you will have to pay for it. For the general, occasional birding use, anything over $500 Australian is probably overkill. I know many birders would strongly disagree with me. It’s your hobby; pay what you can afford and justify. Personally, if I had $3000 I would rather spend $100 on a perfectly adequate pair of binoculars and use the rest on petrol to go see some wonderful birds. That’s far better than sitting at home with the best binoculars money can buy – and seeing only sparrows and starlings in the backyard.
Link:
- Choosing Binoculars for Birdwatching – a downloadable file from the Bird Observers Club of Australia.
Cattle Egret, Adelaide Zoo